StudyBlue

LQ: 8.5

StudyBlue is a flashcard app designed specifically for high school and college students. Users curate their own digital flashcards using text, images, or voice recordings. StudyBlue is meant to work as a collaborative study guide, allowing users to search for their specific school, subject, class, and teacher. If their school is not listed in the app’s library, users can add it themselves. The idea is to give all students in a particular class the same set of notes and study material. Flashcards can be made public or private — for personal or group study. Users create a profile when joining StudyBlue, providing the name of their school and reason for using the app. Once users sign up, they can invite their classmates to join them. The more casual learner can browse the library of curated cards for a more self-directed learning experience. The free version grants users limited access to content. The paid version of the app, StudyBlue Pro requires an annual subscription of $9.99. We recommend StudyBlue to users who are 13 and older.

THIS APP IS GOOD FOR KIDS WHO NEED HELP WITH:

Working Memory

Recalling and retaining information in her mind while working.

Flashcard apps are ideal for exercising working memory. But flashcards tend to work best when used in study groups -- which is exactly how StudyBlue is supposed to work. Assuming the instructor allows devices in the classroom, users can even make flashcards during lectures to ensure no important information is forgotten. Or multiple students in a class can take collective notes and even capture audio from the lecture and upload it to a flashcard. If used to its full potential, StudyBlue may be more helpful than a set of Cornell Style notes. With StudyBlue, the working memory is active during the process of writing the note cards and during personal study.

Organization

Arranging and coordinating materials in order to complete a task.

Not only does note-taking teach students the importance of quick decision-making, but it enforces the need to use dates, labels, and categories to make it easier to find and file information. StudyBlue is a highly organized app, bringing together the many user-created flashcards within its library. The "Backpack" tab keeps a subject file of all flashcard decks users have added. Within the subject folder are individual sets of notes related to a broader subject. Users who have created their own deck have three different study options: browse note cards, take a quiz, or look at a review sheet. The order of cards can be arranged at random, from hardest to easiest, and least studied. Users are encouraged to add or join their their school, class, and teacher to best remain organized and target what they are supposed to be learning.

Writing

Taking notes is an indespensible study strategy. Writing down ideas, terms, and definitions as they are heard in class actually helps students commit information to memory. Because StudyBlue allows users to create and curate their own flashcards, students will be better prepared when it comes time to sit down an review them. Additionally, writing flashcards challenges students to quickly jot down the most important information. Being concise is a difficult writing skill to master, but by making note-taking convenient, StudyBlue encourages this valuable writing practice.